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Los Angeles Pregnancy Discrimination Lawyer
Pregnancy discrimination is discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. It is illegal for employers to treat pregnant women differently from other workers due to their pregnancy or related conditions. When a pregnant employee is treated differently in the terms and conditions of their employment because of their pregnancy, they have been subjected to pregnancy discrimination. As a mother or expecting mother, you have rights in the workplace. Our Los Angeles pregnancy discrimination attorney has experience recovering compensation for pregnancy workers who have been wronged in the workforce and can help you pursue your claims.
What is Pregnancy Discrimination?
Pregnancy discrimination occurs when an employer treats a potential job candidate or pregnant employee less favorably because of her pregnancy related conditions, need for pregnancy leave, or pregnancy status. This means that employers cannot treat pregnant employees differently than other employees by refusing to hire them, denying them promotions or raises, forcing them to take leave without pay, or terminating them because they are pregnant. Discrimination can occur before getting pregnant, while pregnant and after childbirth, and to further expand federal and state protections afforded to private and public employees, laws and regulations also protect job applicants and employees that were fired.
Examples of Pregnancy Discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination can take many forms, including but not limited to the following:
- Denying or canceling a pregnant employee’s health insurance coverage
- Refusing to accommodate requests for light duty work
- Forcing an employee on maternity leave back into work before she is ready
- Terminating an employee before she has had her baby
- Excluding pregnant employees from certain job opportunities, benefits, or meetings
- Denying or failing to hire a job applicant on the basis of their pregnancy status
- Demoting a pregnant employee to a lower level role
If you suspect that you have been treated differently because of your pregnancy or pregnancy related conditions, please contact our legal team at Equate Law for your free confidential consultation.
Employee Rights and Legal Resources
Pregnant employees are protected by numerous laws, including but not limited to: (1) The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), (2) The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), (3) California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and (4) California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
First, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) is a federal statute that prohibits employers from discriminating against women who are pregnant as well as those who have recently given birth or experienced complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. Under the statute, employers must provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees.
Second, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal statute that provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for eligible employees who need time off due to serious health conditions such as childbirth recovery or a doctor-ordered bed rest period. Under the FMLA, pregnant employees are afforded protections such as unpaid leave and are protected from discrimination.
Third, the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) requires California public and private employers to provide up to 4 months of maternity disability leave per year to their employees. This state law guarantees that female workers will be able to return to the same job they held prior to taking maternity leave.
Fourth, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) is a state statute that makes pregnancy discrimination illegal and actionable. Under the FEHA, pregnancy is a protected characteristic that is afforded numerous workplace protections, such as the right to reasonable accommodations.
The rights of pregnant women in the workplace should not be neglected. At Equate Law, we have vast knowledge and expertise in handling cases involving pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. No woman should ever feel that they’re being discriminated against or treated unfairly due to their pregnancy status; we’re dedicated to protecting their rights and advocating on their behalf by providing aggressive legal representation.
At Equate Law, we are committed to protecting our clients’ rights in cases involving pregnancy discrimination. Our attorneys offer comprehensive legal services tailored specifically for our clients’ needs in such cases – whether it be advocating on behalf of a client before filing suit or representing them in court during litigation. We strive to provide top notch legal representation throughout the entire process. Please contact us today if you believe you have been discriminated against due to your pregnancy!
What to do if you faced Pregnancy Discrimination in Los Angeles?
Start documenting everything, keep notes of times, dates, locations, associated offenses and witnesses. If a company has policies that are outdated or are in direct opposition of federal and California state employment law then get copies or make sure that you have proof of the organization’s treatment of pregnant or postpartum women. After you have gathered all of your evidence, you should contact a lawyer for a consultation. Our legal team at Equate Law can help you every step of the way, advising you towards the best solution and defending your rights should the case need to be filed and go to court.
Pregnancy Discrimination Damages & Compensation
Equate Law will go after all applicable damage types to get the maximum compensation for our clients. Damages for pregnancy discrimination cases could include:
- Back pay and back wages
- Future lost earnings
- Job position reinstatement
- Pay differential from a promotion, raise, or bonus
- Benefits or pension benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Attorney fees and legal costs
At Equate Law, we believe everyone deserves to have the peace of mind of knowing that their parental rights are protected at work. That’s why we take on cases involving pregnancy discrimination with an unwavering commitment to helping clients navigate their legal options. It’s part of our mission at Equate Law to make sure employees know their rights when their employers violate them so that they don’t have to worry about an uncertain future just because they chose to start a family.
Pregnant employees have the right not only under federal law but also under state law not to be discriminated against due to their condition in the workplace. If you feel like you have been discriminated against due to your pregnancy, please do not hesitate to contact Equate Law today! Our team of experienced attorneys will fight hard on your behalf so that justice may be served!
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